Composite heel



Patented Sept. 28, 1926. I

llhllTED STATES new BELA w. RO'IE, or CLEVELAND, oHro.

COMPOSITE HEEL.

' No Drawing.

My invention relates to shoe heels and non-slip material. This composite heel may be utilized as a tread-section for a compound. heel having an inner soft cushion section serving as a backing adjacent the shoe heel "proper. j v The following description sets forth detail certain ingredients adapted to be combined to form my improved composite shoe heel, and certain steps by which the same are combined, the disclosed'proportions of said ingredients and the method of com-. bining the same being illustrative of various proportions and steps suitable for the improved composition and the forming of the same. 7

I produce the stock suitable for my improved heel by the process descrioed and claimed inmy pending application for U. S.- Letters Patent, Serial No. 430,086. Rubber stock may be utilized for an inner cushion section. In the latter event, I anchor in any suitable manner these two sections one to the other so as to produce one united mass of the whole having a homogeneous structure in and adjacent to the plane containing the joint between the two sections. Preferably, I vulcanize the two sections together so as to produce this single mass. I do not limit myself as to the relative thickness of the two sections, the same being of equal thickness or one of a greater or less thickness than the other, according to the particular demand to be satisfied by the composite structure.

hen my improved heel composition 1s combined with an inner cushion section, these two sections are anchored one to the other so as to produce a homogeneous struc ture in the plane of the joint between the two sections, this anchorage preferably being obtained by vulcanizing the two sections. This vulcanization as is known to those well skilled in the art, is effected in a suitable mold. The usual washers molded in heel lifts and through which and up to which the nails are driven for securing the heel to the shoe are utilized when two sections are thus combined to form a compound heel. In the event that my improved composite heel forms the whole heel structure and is not utilized with an inner rubber cushion section, I can dispense with the usual washers around the nail holes A Application filed January 20, Serial No. 5530;533.

heel lifts require the washers around the nail holes and it is common practice to utilion the same.

Briefly now I shall describe the process of producing the tough wear-resisting composite heel, which process is described and claimed in said application, Serial No. 430,- 086. I first dissolve a minor portion of rubher in benzol or'its equivalent. One example of such equivalent is gasoline of seventy Baum or'over. I then saturate a majorportion of cotton or its equivalent with the rubber solution. This cotton is any suitable fibre material essentially wear-resisting and non-elastic, the particular grade of the same depending upon the final product which is desired, and it may be cotton fibre, of a high or low order, or waste or scrap leather, or waste or scrap jute, or a combination of the same. Also dependent upon the final product desired, the rubber may be pure Para or smoked sheets, which is a refined rubber, or crepe which is plantation rubber and less dense than sheets, or coarse rubber which is a second or third grade raw rubber, or reclaimed rubber, which is any grade being subjected to its second or third use. By a minor portion of rubber, I mean substantially one part by weight to four parts of the fibre or its equivalent. The mixture of rubber and cotton is dried thoroughly of the contained moisture, this drying being preferably effected by a vacuum drying process. The heat to which the vacuum drier is subjected will vary according to the heat that is allowed for the drying. The dried product is then warmed and compressed, preferably by rolls, filling, pigment and vulcanizing material being added during the pressing or rolling operation. These lastmentioned materials are added also in a minor portion, the aggregate of the same being substantially by weight equal to the weight of the rubber.

Dependent upon the nature of the desired product, the filling, pigment and vulcanizing material will vary both as to its ingredients and the relative proportions of the same. Fori'nstance, suppose seventy (70) parts of cotton or its equivalent to have been utilized and fifteen (15) parts of pure Para rubber,

the filling, pigment and vulcanizing material would consist of five (5) parts litharge, five (5) parts of magnesia, three (8) parts of gloss black or lamp black, and tWo (2) parts pure sulphur. These ingredients will produce a high grade black Wear-resisting and non-slip plastic composition suitable for manufacturing a high grade leather substitute. Again, supposing a high grade leather substitute of tan color is desired. Suitable ingredients would be sixty-five per cent cotton fibre of high order, substantially fifteen (15) per cent pure Para rubber, substantially five (5) per cent magnesia, substantially five per cent oxy-sulphide of antimony or red antimony, substantially five (5) per cent zinc oxide, substantially three (3) per cent petrolatum and substantially two per cent sulphur. The magnesia, besides serving as a filler, allows increased heat under vulcanizing, because it is not greatly affected by the heat, the anti mony serves as a pigment, the inc oxide serves as a filler and also assists in the vulcanizqation. The petrolatum serves as binding material and the sulphur assists greatly, of course, in the vulcanization. After the filling, pigment and vulcanizing material has been compressed and rolled into the cotton-rubber mixture, as above mentioned, the resultant product is sheeted to the desired thickness and cured in a fiat plate vulcanizing press.

From the sheeted artificial leather, produced as above described, are stamped my improved composite heels or lifts adapted to serve as the tread sections of heel and, in the latter event, to these sections are anchored soft cushion sections preferably of rubber, by any suitable process, preferably by vulcanizing the two sections together in a suitable mold. lhis anchorage would be increased by any indentations or unevenness in the contacting surfaces of the two sections.

lVha-t I claim is l. A composite heel comprising, a leather substitute section composed of substantially seventy (70) parts cotton fibre, fifteen (15) parts vulcanized pure Para rubber, and thirteen (13) to eighteen (18) parts filling and pigm nt- 2. A composite heel comprising, a leather substitute tread section composed of substantially seventy ('Z'O) parts cotton fibre,

fifteen (15) parts pure Para rubber, five parts litharge, five (5) parts magnesia, three (3) parts gloss black and two (2) parts pure sulphur.

Signed by me this 14th day of December, 1921. i

BELA RQTE. 

